Carpentry at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

Lancaster, PA · Public · Associate Degree · Carpenters

A 53% admission rate makes Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 1,449 students in Lancaster, PA.

Program Analysis

At $37,611/yr, Carpentry graduates from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology land near the $37,206 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

With a 30.5x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 30% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Carpentry career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $7,231 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #9 ranking among 15 Carpentry programs places Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 39% earnings increase from $37,611 to $52,333 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 37 apprenticeship pathways connected to Carpentry reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

57 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
51
Low End
57
Score
58
High End
Earnings $37,611/yr (1% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (71% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (148,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$561K
8.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
31.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$18,100
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,231
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,333
39% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Carpentry graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers $78,690 +5.3% 57%
Carpenters $59,310 +4.5% 86%
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
$78,690
+5.3% growth 57% AI-proof
Carpenters
$59,310
+4.5% growth 86% AI-proof

Carpentry Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Carpentry — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and 14 other schools.

Read the full Carpentry career guide →

Compare & Explore

Carpentry Overview

Carpentry at Other Schools

Other Majors at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Carpentry at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology?
At 57/100, the score looks reasonable — but Carpentry is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
How affordable is Carpentry at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology?
At $7,231 in median debt, Carpentry graduates from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Can I learn Carpentry through an apprenticeship instead of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology?
Yes — 37 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Carpentry career paths, including Boat Builder (Existing Title: Boat Builder, Wood). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
What's the job market like for Carpentry from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology?
With approximately 148,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Carpentry offers a very large employment pool. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology graduates enter a market shaped by infrastructure investment and steady replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →